As a sole practitioner writing a letter, how do I change the customary 3rd party pro-nouns ("we," "our," etc.) to something that is only "me", without using the word "I"? Personally, I think using "we" when there is only one person in the firm sounds a bit pompus.

Thank you for your input.

Is there a reason you can't use "I?"

Could you post a sample sentence or two, or a paragraph?

What about "this organization" or "this company"?

What about "THE FIRM"? Or, keep it impersonal, and use the word "The" a lot.
"The/ The firm's" decision was made to improve the quality of your choices. Ferther more, "the firm/this" decision is going to increase the probability of your desired out come.

How's that?? Use, this, that, the, and so on. Or just say "the firm", it's not saying you are more than one, and it's not saying you are just one. It may be taken as the reader decides. You are apart of a firm right, if so it's not missleading. It would be a missinterpretaion of the details if some one assumed so. You know what they say about making Assumptions. When you assume things, it makes an of yo(u) and me.

Peace be with you. :)

Below is one paragrpah from a standard engagement letter. In total, there are 34 instances of the word "we" in the entire letter, and 27 instances of "our" in the letter. --Using the third person when referring to one's self is.. . What roaylty does, and sounds pompus to me. So, I do not care to use a royal we.

Our fees will be based upon the amount of time required at our standard billing rates plus out-of-pocket expenses. Bookkeeping hourly rates vary from $<amount> to $<amount> per hour. Tax, financial, and consulting hourly rates vary from $<amount> to $<amount> per hour depending on the individual providing the services. All invoices are due and payable upon presentation. We will bill on an interim basis prior to completion of this engagement. Billings become delinquent if not paid within <number> days of the invoice date. If billings are past due in excess of <number> days, we will stop all work until your account is brought current, or withdraw from this engagement. <Client> acknowledges and agrees that we are not required to continue work in the event of <client's> failure to pay on a timely basis for services rendered as required by this engagement letter. <Client> further acknowledges and agrees that in the event we stop work or withdraw from this engagement as a result of <client's> failure to pay on a timely basis for services rendered as required by this engagement letter, we shall not be liable to <client> for any damages that occur as a result of our ceasing to render services.

I do not know why "I" should be minimized in the writing of a letter, but it was drilled into my head through-out high school and college. Also, the partner at the last firm I worked at HATED it. It would be interesting to get someone who actually knows why "I' is to be avoided in business correspondence to comment.

The changes I have made are bolded. When you see the words "the company" simply insert the name of the company.

Fees will be based upon the amount of time required at the standard billing rates plus out-of-pocket expenses. Bookkeeping hourly rates vary from $<amount> to $<amount> per hour. Tax, financial, and consulting hourly rates vary from $<amount> to $<amount> per hour depending on the individual providing the services. All invoices are due and payable upon presentation. Billing is on an interim basis prior to completion of this engagement. Billings become delinquent if not paid within <number> days of the invoice date. If billings are past due in excess of <number> days, all work stop until your account is brought current, or withdraw from this engagement. <Client> acknowledges and agrees that the company is not required to continue work in the event of <client’s> failure to pay on a timely basis for services rendered as required by this engagement letter. <Client> further acknowledges and agrees that in the event the company stops work or withdraw from this engagement as a result of <client’s> failure to pay on a timely basis for services rendered as required by this engagement letter, the company shall not be liable to <client> for any damages that occur as a result of the company ceasing to render services.

I know! I know! (I had business courses in grad school and have a long history of writing business letters or editing them for my boss.)

"I" sounds egotistical and should not begin every sentence. In fact, most sentences can have "I" in them if the sentence is recast, rephrased so it begins with a dependent clause.

"I" sounds egotistical and should not begin every sentence. In fact, most sentences can have "I" in them if the sentence is recast, rephrased so it begins with a dependent clause.[/QUOTE]

Agreed. When reading letters with too many first person references to the writer really bothers me. Who knows if that's because we were taught that it was wrong, or if it would have otherwise bothered me.


I am going to have to review the Dale Carnegie audio book that I have, because I think there were comments about focusing communications on making the other party feel important. If I recall correctly, there was a notation of using "I" sounding like the person communicating was focusing on himself, not the client's needs/wants/desires.

Using "I" all the time, especially to begin each sentence, is boring boring boring and shows that the writer has no imagination, nor is he much of a writer, is unable to vary sentence structure.

I wear many hats... haven't you learned that by now? LOL